Loss of Wheeler stings

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This article was published 08/04/2021 (1619 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of Pierre-Luc Dubois’ rituals just before puck drop has been eliminated by an injury to Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler.

But the 22-year-old forward, a key addition to the Jets group since the start of the 2021 NHL regular season, says it’s an insignificant disruption compared to the monumental loss of the team’s incomparable leader.

“I’m going to have to maybe fist bump myself because I usually fist bump him,” Dubois said Thursday from Montreal, during a morning chat with reporters. “It’s a huge loss for our team.”

Winnipeg is without Wheeler for its five-game road trip in eastern Canada. The 34-year-old right-winger is out indefinitely with a concussion, sustained Monday at Bell MTS Place when he took an elbow to the cheek from Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.

“Obviously, (he’s) the captain but (a) great player, great presence in the dressing room, on the ice, on the bench. I’ve enjoyed playing with him on our line also. But I think it’s an opportunity for other guys. We have a lot of depth on this team,” said Dubois. “We can’t feel sorry for us. No team is going to feel sorry. No team is going to change anything because we lost a guy so we have to keep going.”

Dubois, acquired Jan. 23 from the Blue Jackets in a monster trade that sent Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic to Columbus, said he’s quickly grown to appreciate the influence of the composed and astute 13-year NHL veteran.

“For me, Wheels has just got a calming presence to him. He’s not the guy that talks the whole game on the bench, in the room, on the ice. But when he talks it has a lot of impact …when he talks, people listen,” added Dubois.

He lined up with Mark Scheifele and Wheeler when he first joined the Jets lineup. Lately, he’s been sandwiched between two savvy 30-something wingers with piles experience and proven production, Paul Stastny and Wheeler (who has 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games),

HARKINS GETS A SHOT

Jansen Harkins waited seven weeks for his chance to play meaningful hockey instead of the simulated variety.

The 24-year-old forward was inserted Thursday into the Jets lineup for the first time since Feb. 19, a 2-0 shutout victory against the Vancouver Canucks. He played seven minutes, 49 seconds that night with Nate Thompson and Trevor Lewis.

The trio was reunited at Bell Centre, part of the chain of alterations made necessary by the injury to Wheeler.

Harkins, who played a dozen contests earlier in the year, said the critical part of participating in routine practices and off-ice workouts for a month — without the carrot of actually suiting up — was maintaining a positive outlook.

“It’s definitely not easy not playing. Just trying to keep the morale up and try to have fun and work hard with the guys. Just day in, day out, come to the rink and try to have fun playing hockey, and at the end of the day we’re on a great team making a good run, there’s a lot to be happy about. Just getting to come to the rink and play hockey every day is not such a bad thing,” he said.

“It’s trying to keep the fire alive while practising and trying to stay ready. The hardest part is doing the same thing every day without getting a chance to play. We’re all hockey players, we all want to play, so, in saying that, just wait for my time and, hopefully, be ready (Thursday).”

The trio of Thompson, Lewis and Mathieu Perreault has been highly effective in keeping opponents at by and creating chances, while allowing the top-9 forward group some valuable moments to catch its collective breath.

Harkins’ goal was to maintain that chemistry.

“I’ve been close to the team this entire time, so watching them play, game in and game, obviously, playing great. We have a super deep up front, so watching the way those guys play the game and contribute in that role, you can definitely learn from it if you choose to. So, just trying to watch diligently and bring some of those tools to my own game,” he said.

“When you’ve been out a while, whether it’s injury or just not playing, of course, first it’s just excitement to play again and then try to channel that into my game. That’s what I have to bring to the team is some speed and physicality and just being hard on the puck.”

Harkins, Thompson and Lewis were aligned during training camp, generating a couple of goals during scrimmages. Maurice has confidence they can click on an emergency basis.

“I expect Hark to be able to go in and play with those two guys, and not change their game one bit,” he said. “There are a lot of great things that can happen by those guys playing eight to 10 minutes a night and they can be a big part of our team winning.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell